MPs behaving badly: there is a pattern here
|
What’s most dispiriting about the apparently constant drip of revelations about inappropriate behaviour by NSW ministers is the apparent failure by the mainstream media to note that there is a pattern here, and it has little to do with the fact that they belong to the “embattled” NSW Labor Government. Crikey has been banging on all year about MPs across the country who inflict serious damage on the people who work for them — and the failure of the major political parties, and in particular the ALP, to do anything but try to hide the problems. But the mainstream media continue to report new cases in isolation, as though they don’t reflect a deeper problem with the way we allow politicians to go about their jobs. We’re not talking here about ordinary poor behaviour. There are boors and fools and thugs in workplaces across the country. It’s the sense of entitlement that seems to motivate many MPs to treat other people — whether they are staff, or waiters, or anyone who happens to cross them — with contempt. It’s a sense of entitlement encouraged by the job — one with a large salary, expenses, vehicles, travel and public profile. Most MPs manage to prevent it from going to their heads. But a lot don’t, and they make other people’s lives hell. Particularly because MPs aren’t under the same workplace laws as everyone else. Some of the “allegations” that emerged about Tony Stewart once the media smelt blood bordered on the trivial or absurd. But the ones that were most reflective of the systemic problems Stewart exemplified came from his former chief of staff Tony Galderisi. Galderisi told The Sun Herald that senior Government figures had warned him Stewart was difficult to work for:
That quote eloquently sums up the experience of any number of ministerial staffers and electorate office staff across the country. Rather than demand that errant MPs obtain counselling, or find a way to curb their behavioural problems, the ALP requires its staff to “manage” MPs apparently incapable of behaving like civilized people. It shouldn’t be up to staff to manage the MPs they work for. Staff can be sacked on a whim. And plenty of them prefer to keep quiet rather than endanger their own careers. Nathan Rees, remember, was told to keep his questions about his minister Milton Orkopoulos to himself. It is up to party leaders — premiers, factional leaders, party elders — to indicate what standards must be adhered to and take action when they are breached. That’s what virtually every other corporation and employer in the country does. To be fair, there are indications this occasionally happens. Crikey is aware of the case of a Queensland MP whose constant s-xual indiscretions forced Peter Beattie to provide a “mentor” for him in the form of an older minister. The MP s-xually harassed one of the Minister’s female staff, and had to be moved to another minister. MPs cannot, of course, be “sacked”. However, parties never consider revealing the indiscretions of their MPs if they can help it, for fear of the electoral consequences. If Nathan Rees wants to demonstrate that he really is a different sort of leader, he should make clear to all his MPs — including the bizarre “Tony Stewart supporters” apparently aggrieved over his dismissal — that it is not just lying to him that will get you sacked, but that abusing staff will have serious consequences as well. And for that matter it’s about time the mainstream media stopped treating these cases as “Freak of the Week” and started asking why this keeps happening across all governments, all states and all political parties. |
|
|
|
13 Comments
Thus spoketh the sermon! Hey Bern I reckon the common thread is use and abuse of personal power whatever the sector.
The thing is it’s evident in Business with the ripple effect of sexist policy, creating a blowback on younger males by embittered female pioneers. It’s evident in the official ngo sector at times with a subteranean gender war always close by. It’s evident in the official community sector with bullying and nepotism.
It’s also evident in some staffers who behave like they are the MP/minister personified and leverage their gatekeeper role for personal career ambition etc. I know of one good example years ago.
And of course it’s evident in the Big Media organisations - notably a certain drunken, now remorseful/reconstructed fellow taking a swing at a certain founder.
Fact is there is a healthy hierarchy based on merit and talent, and labour done, and unhealthy hierarchy based on excessive ego and power triping. It’s a moving feast with scary feedback loops and to transcend these things is surely the journey of life.
I suggest like physical violence, emotional violence tends to spiral out of control so best to avoid starting any ripples at all.
Which brings us back to Gandhi’s ten principles of nonviolence such as here, and remember he was not a pacifist, he believed in peaceful confrontation as an artform:
http://www.agnt.org/principles.htm
The public service John Howard and so many MPs laud as a rewarding career opportunity isn’t similarly revered by a large slice of MP staff — the ones who lost their lives, homes, careers and health in the line of duty. We went into MP workplaces unaware the most basic workplace entitlements are discretionary - up to the MP. Here are a few examples of why some of us got the bullet: consecutive refusals to clean toilets, vacuum, dust the office and hand deliver mail to save postal allowance was deemed ‘disloyal’ and justified job loss; no job either for the the worker returning to work after life-saving surgery because the MP was heading into an election and needed a full staff complement and the inadvertant observer of illegal activity who took stress-leave, was sacked while on Workcover and committed suicide because the emotional and fiscal costs of funding her courtcase were beyond her. Just a brief snapshot of the ghastly impact of some very decisive MPs who put their workplace rights above those of ordinary working Australians. You know the mums, dads and kiddies who now find it even tougher after literally serving an MP.
Keep at this one Crikey. The behaviour of MPs towards their staffers and towards public servants should be exemplary. They are in a leadership position for hundreds of thousands of government employees across the country. Average is not good enough. Below average is terrible. The stresses and the workloads for pollies, particularly ministers, are enormous. This can be a reason, but not an excuse for bad behaviour. As you point out, many pollies treat staff and public servants very well. What has been lacking, on both sides, are effective systems for identifying, addressing and fixing bad behaviour. Departmental secretaries from time to time put their careers on the line when they go into bat for staff. Premiers and Prime Minister Departments keep a bit of a watch on this stuff and occasionally go to premiers or the PM, who then send senior staffers to do some arm twisting. It might even get escalated to a quiet chat between Premier or PM and ministers. Unfortunately, the main standard of behaviouir seems to be: ‘Don’t get yourself in the media.’
Michael De Angelos two of Stewart’s staff have spoken about both a specific incident and his general inability to behave appropriately and perform his role competently. They have “come forward”, as you’ve demanded. What more do they need to do? Sign statements in blood? Or are you saying they have lied?
As for “denial of natural justice”, WTF? Ministries are in the gift of the premier. No one has a right to one.
And Marilyn, Jesus you talk some crap. Fair dinkum. I haven’t seen you bag your beloved Kevin for his war crimes in Afghanistan.
Keep at this one Crikey. The behaviour of MPs towards their staffers and towards public servants should be exemplary. They are in a leadership position for hundreds of thousands of government employees across the country. Average is not good enough. Below average is terrible. The stresses and the workloads on pollies, particularly ministers, are enormous. This can be a reason, but not an excuse for bad behaviour. As you point out, many pollies treat staff and public servants very well. What has been lacking, on both sides, are effective systems for identifying, addressing and fixing bad behaviour. Departmental secretaries from time to time put their careers on the line when they go into bat for staff. Premiers and Prime Minister Departments keep a bit of a watch on this stuff and occasionally go to premiers or the PM, who then send senior staffers to do some arm twisting. It might even get escalated to a quiet chat between Premier or PM and ministers. Unfortunately, the main standard of behaviour seems to be: ‘Don’t get yourself in the media.’
As you said Bernard-these are “allegations” and little short of gossip and innuendo. Those with real complaints should come forward in the proper forum-not tabloid newspapers. Tony Stewart has been removed by a “report” delived by a QC to give it gravitas ( whilst completely denying Stewart a voice) boosted by newpaper sensationalism of gossip . Rees appears to be ruling by Daily Telegraph headline as previous premiers did. I expect more depth from crikey.
Your references to “the bizarre “Tony Stewart supporters” apparently aggrieved over his dismissal” is particularly outrageous. I have no idea what is the truth about Stewart one way or the other-but I can see a denial of natural justice here and if you have proof of outrageous conduct or bad behaviour-put up or shut.
Marilyn - yes the Howard mob breached all sorts of human and civil rights and no ‘NOT ONE OF THEM EVER LOST THEIR JOBS’. They should have. So why not get equally angry about those MPs, their parties and parliaments who bail out reprehensible workplace breaches with the public purse. Ruining and taking the lives of Australian workers isn’t what I call “this mind numbingly trivial crap…being passed off as bad behaviour’. They are documented breaches of HREOC, civil and common law principles all supressed by party factions bent on staying in power - deadly, ruinous practices. All we did was rock up for a day at work in an MPs office and landed in hospitals and courts. Marilyn you owe people such as myself and Gillian Sneddon one huge apology. And we expect it.
Are you aware though of the standards set by the Howard mob? Did you bother to watch “Well Founded Fear” last night before you have another whinge about bad behaviour?
The Howard mob tortured children, illegally trafficked human beings to their deaths, forged documents to do it, started illegal wars, allowed Australian citizens to be tortured and rendered by the US and so on and NOT ONE OF THEM EVER LOST THEIR JOBS.
Now start getting over this mind numbingly trivial crap that is being passed off as bad behaviour.
Political parties are naturally agressive places because they’re always subject to power struggles, personality-driven factions, secret deals and various other shenanigans. It follows that those who want the most out of the system (eg a Ministerial position) are those who play hardest. It further follows that sociopaths seem to be better at winning power struggles by exploiting the insecurities of other sociopaths than psychologically healthy individuals (who invariably give up).
Until the system has a reason to change, it won’t. As long as these matters are swept under the carpet and complainants are bought off with public dollars, nothing will change.
Bernard
Your article should perhaps have referred to the report by the Human Rights Commission that was only released on 12 November 2008, called “Effectively preventing and responding to sexual harassment: A Code of Practice for employers‘”
The report states
“Employers have a common law duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of their employees. This common law duty is reinforced by occupational health and safety legislation in all Australian jurisdictions.” [the full quote and some opinions are available at http://safetyatworkblog.wordpress.com/ ]
Perhaps the egotisitcal behaviour of Australian politicians may be changed if it is seen in the context of a breach of human right?
No Bernard Keane, I’m not saying 2 “witnesses” have lied although you are obviously inferring that Stweart has. Yes-I would prefer signed statements ( though they needed be in blood)-I don’t normally , or would ever, regard a press report as the truth.
I don’t know Tony Stewart from Adam but I repeat-my complaint is about ‘natural justice’ and apparently the emminent Barry Toomey QC feels likewise (as I have heard annecdotely that many in the legal profession do) about the process of Stewart’s removal.
Ministers may owe their positions to the premier ( but you as a journalist know this isn’t true and factions have a hand in the process) but if you regard the job as a “gift” to be given and taken at whim then we have a serious problem in the press gallery.
Kevin Jones…and when Marilyn gets a grip on herself about what constitutes numbingly trivial crap I took my MP and the Parliament to the Human Rights and EEO Commission. And what resulted? The Parliament and my MPs party simply dipped into the public purse and paid me compensation to let the lawbreaker loose on not just more staff but also her constituents. She’s still sitting up there in Pineapple Territory presiding over more fallout on bigger issues than me. Take it to HREOC, take it to the UN - take it to the Workplace Ombudsman - but an Australian MP can break all sorts of laws, codes and guidelines aided and abetted by parliaments and parties. Because MP’s here are handed carte blanche on staff management in an archaic IR model unfit for last century let alone this one. The evidence is there but not one MP will cross the floor to change the situation.
Perhaps the underlying problem is the attitude amongst our elected representatives that they are somehow above the law. Take smoking, for example. I understand that in Maquarie Street, workplace smoking still occurs, because MLA’s refuse to abide by the law, and they know we mug punters are the ones who will have to pay up if they are sued for compensation. Contrast that with Ireland, where a member of their parliament lost his seat for refusing to abide by new smoking laws, because he brought the legislature into disrepute.